Training a Diverse Healthcare Workforce of the Future

Alameda Health System, Alameda Unified School District and FACES for the Future Partner on a High School Internship Program

Oakland, Calif. (March 7, 2017) – Alameda Health System (AHS), Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) and FACES for the Future Coalition (a program of the Public Health Institute), today announced they have partnered to introduce a multi-year healthcare internship and leadership development program for high school students in Alameda County.

“Alameda Health System has long been committed to exposing underrepresented, low-income youth and adults to careers in healthcare,” said James E.T. Jackson, chief administrative officer for Alameda and San Leandro Hospitals. “FACES for the Future is the latest program to fall under our HealthPATH career development initiative, which places youth in the community on the path to a strong education to build the workforce of the future. This work is at the heart of our mission of Caring, Healing, Teaching and Serving All.”

The FACES for the Future South Alameda County Program places underrepresented high school students in internship positions at AHS’s Alameda and San Leandro Hospitals while providing additional academic enrichment, wellness support and youth leadership development. Consequently, the program cultivates Alameda County’s future healthcare workforce—one that reflects the local community and delivers culturally competent care.

“Youth from varied backgrounds can struggle to compete academically and often lack the necessary confidence, skills and support to pursue their personal and professional dreams,” said Jasmine Nakagawa-Wong, FACES for the Future program manager. “FACES for the Future programs empower underrepresented youth to learn about health careers and gain the necessary mentoring to accomplish their goals. We are proud of this collaboration in serving the students of Alameda County.”

In addition to clinical and non-clinical internships that expose students to healthcare careers, teens are educated on topics such as HIPAA, ethics, confidentiality, safety and professionalism. Other aspects of the program include individualized academic and career support, college application assistance and support in securing financial aid.

Furthermore, the program provides wellness interventions when needed, referrals to outside services and partners when appropriate, programs that teach a myriad of life skills, and a safe, supportive environment populated with adult role models who embody the core values of the program.

The FACES for the Future South Alameda County Program currently serves students at Alameda High School and San Leandro High School and will soon expand to Encinal High School. Students are assigned to a specific department (both clinical and administrative) within the hospital for internship rotations.

“AUSD serves a diverse community of nearly 10,000 learners,” said Sean McPhetridge, superintendent of Alameda Unified School District. “The academic and whole-person training provided by FACES for the Future and AHS is another exciting opportunity to prepare our students to be responsible citizens.”

About Alameda Unified School District

Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) serves more than 9,600 students in Alameda, California, an island community in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, please visit the AUSD website, follow @AUSDNews on Twitter, or subscribe to our email communications.

About the FACES for the Future Coalition

The FACES for the Future Coalition, a program of Public Health Institute, delivers the highly successful FACES program model to communities seeking to prepare high school students for entry into the health professions by developing their own pipeline programs. FACES incorporates best practices in adolescent medicine, innovative pedagogy and community engagement. Taken together, the model addresses the diverse needs of young people interested in healthcare careers, and prepares students to meet the challenges of impending health workforce shortages and worsening health disparities. FACES for the Future provides pipeline programming in allied health, mental and behavioral health, public health, and global health. FACES programs serve communities across the state of California and are now scaling nationally.

About Alameda Health System

Alameda Health System (AHS) is a leading public health care provider and medical training institution recognized for its world-class patient and family-centered system of care. Our mission, Caring, Healing, Teaching, Serving All, reflects our commitment to promoting wellness, eliminating disparities and optimizing the health of all communities in Alameda County. We currently provide more than 4,500 jobs and are home to more than 1,100 physicians across nine facilities, including five hospitals and a network of community-based wellness centers. For more information, visit AlamedaHealthSystem.org.